On a scorcher of an Independence Day afternoon, the Nationals racing presidents paid homage to the author of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Wearing traditional period garb for the holiday, Thomas Jefferson led Sunday’s presidents race from wire to wire with a large American Flag in hand. George Washington followed with a quill pen, and Teddy Roosevelt trailed the pack carrying an oversized copy of the Declaration of Independence.

After the race, Thomas took the quill and signed the declaration as Teddy held it up for the Nationals Park crowd.